Taiwan inducts M1A2T Abrams into army

Taiwan's M1A2T is displayed at Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition 2025. (Janes/Vishal Sengupta)

The Republic of China Army (RoCA) has commissioned an initial batch of US-made M1A2T Abrams main battle tanks (MBTs) into service, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced on 31 October.

The MND said on its social media channel that the new MBTs will be operated by the RoCA's 3rd Combined Arms Battalion of the 584th Armor Brigade, which is headquartered at Hukou township in Hsinchu county. The MND did not disclose the number of tanks that were commissioned.

Taiwan has taken delivery of 80 out of 108 M1A2T MBTs that were ordered from the United States in 2019. However, the tanks had not been put into service. The initial batch of tanks was delivered to the island in December 2024. The remaining 28 tanks are scheduled to arrive in Taiwan in 2026.

According to Janes Land Warfare Platforms: Armoured Fighting Vehicles , the M1A2T variant of the M1 Abrams is fitted with a 120 mm smoothbore gun and bespoke gas-turbine engine.

The MBT has a maximum onroad speed of 67.6 km/h, a cross-country speed of 48 km/h, and an operating range of 426 km. The MBT can accelerate from 0 to 32 km/h in 7.2 s, climb a 60% gradient at 6.6 km/h, and ford to a depth of 1.2 m without preparation.

The M1A2Ts being delivered to Taiwan have a reconfigured turret with unspecified modifications to enhance their survivability, a modified electrical system and auxiliary power unit, and a new ammunition datalink.

For more information, please see Taiwan receives first batch of M1A2T Abrams tanks .